Read an Excerpt
Chapter One
March 1862 to July 1862
March 11, 1862
On board U.S. Ship Constellation.
This day at three o'clock, P.M. the topsails are hoisted at masthead and fasts singled, all ready to sail from the Kittery Navy Yard. Half an hour later we are coming down the Piscataqua with a breeze from the West. Upon approaching forts McClary and Constitution, the usual salutes are fired and the compliment was returned by our ship by hearty cheers from the men in the rigging.[1]
The breeze freshens and soon we are free from the harbor at Portsmouth, out upon the broad Atlantic. It is a pleasant night and as our ship sails on her way some are singing songs, some are playing upon the viol, guitar and tambourine, and many looking sad, at the idea of leaving the comforts and associations of home for a cruise of three years. Nobody knows where. We are sailing under sealed orders.
March 12
Atlantic Ocean
This morning on coming on deck the sails are to be seen trimmed closer to the wind but our ship is going along finely at the rate of ten knots. We are steering an ESE course. The weather is fine. Some of my mess are sick-sea-sick. I am not although I have not been on a voyage at sea for eight years.
Some say that we are to go to the Azores and there receive orders, but no one knows with certainty whither we are sailing.
This day I have been in the Store Room quite busy all day securing and delivering stores.[2]
It is more rough and the ship rolls quite heavily at times. I find myself nearly used up with a cold on my lungs. I am so hoarse that I can scarcely speak aloud. Nearly all the ship's company are affected in the same manner. I hope that we shall soon change theatmosphere, for with it I look for a cure.
March 13
Atlantic
The ship rolls deeply, the wind has changed more to the Northwest and we are flying before the wind at a fast rate. The sun shines and it is very pleasant. As much wind as we want.
As the night approaches the sea grows rougher and the increasing wind forebodes a storm. I have been in the storeroom all day-have not been on deck an hour.
March 14
During the night the wind died away and lower studding sails have been gotten out. The morning is mild and the weather has that peculiar characteristic to be observed in the Gulf Stream. I find my cold much better. During the past twenty four hours our ship has sailed twelve and fourteen knots per hour. Could we have such a wind for a week longer we should reach Fayal by the end of that time. At noon the wind changed to the Eastward. It looks like a storm. I am very busy in the Store Room. Sometimes six men are in at a time-some for blocks, one for a piece of leather, another for a piece of seizing; one for spikes, one for a piece of lead-and everybody for something-if he can get it. Flying from one place to another tends to make me cross and the waiting men find short answers and rough invitations to leave the room as soon as may be consistent with the object of their visit. I have always had an unreasonable prejudice against shop-keeping and I fear that this experience may make me rough and morose in my manner. One can find good use for all patience which he may be fortunate enough to possess.
I was at Quarters two hours today. A marine was "triced up" in the Brig for being found asleep on post at the Spirit Room when Fire Quarters was called. Here we find discipline and inconsistency combined. The poor fellow who, I presume, was frightened made a loud noise.
March 15
At sea
Last night it rained and the wind blew from the East. The ship was put under single reefed top sails and headed to the South. This morning the wind changed to the West and now we have a fine breeze and we are making good speed on our course. The sea is a little rough but the weather has changed to summer warmth.
This forenoon we made a ship, hove to and waited for her to come up. At 1« o'clock she sent a boat to us. She proved to be an American ship from England to New York, sixty days out. Her captain was on board about an hour. I sent a letter to my brother Edward by her. Her name was the Helena. The day has been quite warm, tonight it is foggy.
March 16, Sunday
At sea
This morning there is a gentle breeze from the Southwest with the occasional showers. Last evening it was very pleasant. The moon shone brightly and the weather was warm. I remained on deck until three bells.
I am constantly impressed with the stupidity and irresponsible character of many of our crew. Without supervision and restraint they would be wasteful and lax in all duty. There are however men of true thrift and business capacity in our crew.
All hands were mustered on the Quarter Deck as is customary on Sabbath forenoons. The ship is damp in every part. My Store Room is like a damp cellar. I do not consider any part of such a ship healthy below the Spar Deck with so many men on board. The wind has changed and blows heavy from the South and we are under reefed top-sails.
Since I finished my last period, as I supposed for today, while sitting forward near the Fore Hatchway while the Forecastle crew were hauling up the bight of the Port chain the ship gave a sudden heavy plunge and the cry of "Man overboard" suddenly rang fore and aft. It was the Captain of the Forecastle, John Campbell, a good natured benevolent looking man with whom I had been conversing only a short time before. I had previously known him for several years under the name of John Alexander. He was a sober reliable man and why he changed his name I do not know.
A boat was lowered, the life buoys dropped, and the ship stayed; we ran in the direction of the man while the boat had gone to the buoys. We came so near to him that we could look down upon him and see him floating with his head under water. The boat found him. The Doctor tried to resuscitate him but life was extinct. The poor fellow is shrouded in his white linen suit with his black hdkf. on his neck and laid on the Gun Deck.
How uncertain is life-a few minutes he was a strong man in the vigor of manhood-now he lies cold and dead.
March 17
At sea
Rough all night and rough now. The ship is on her course but in the heavy sea under double reefed top-sails she does not make much headway. Great quantities of water come on the Berth Deck and settle to the leeward. Weather warm.
Seven bells. All hands are called to "bury the dead."
I went on deck to the Port Gangway and around the dead sailor who was drowned yesterday were congregated his shipmates with uncovered heads. They listened to reading from the Testament by the First Lieutenant and the corpse was lifted to an inclined position to slide with the lurch of the ship to leeward into the sea. It is an impressive sight to witness.
The good ship is driving along under reefed top-sails, the storm pouring upon us, while every roll she makes puts in motion everything unsecured. Decks are full of water. A disagreeable day.
